North Carolina Business Minds

Kristi Coleman’s summer of soccer

The CEO of Tepper Sports & Entertainment tells CBJ’s Erik Spanberg about getting her start in sports business, why an upcoming renovation of Bank of America Stadium means so much to the organization and explains why hosting the MLS All-Star Game is about much more than a week of spotlight events for the city and region. Mentioned in this episode: Elon University https://www.elon.edu/

Fresh Market CEO talks aggressive expansion, culture turnaround, if IPO likely to resurface

The grocer that once ranked one of the nation's worst places to work is now among the nation's most trusted companies. CEO Brian Johnson talks about the turnaround, how the grocer is growing its customer base and how quickly it can reach 200 stores total. Mentioned in this episode: Elon University https://www.elon.edu/

NC Idea's Thom Ruhe on Entrepreneurship, Execution, and NC's Innovation Ecosystem

In this episode, Lauren Ohnesorge sits down with Thom Ruhe, CEO of NC Idea — a private foundation dedicated to supporting high-potential entrepreneurs across North Carolina. Thom breaks down what it really takes to turn an idea into a business, why execution matters more than uniqueness, and how to find the right co-founder. He also shares his perspective on survival entrepreneurship, the changing venture capital landscape, and why you don't need a unicorn raise to build something real. Plus, Thom gives an inside look at NC Idea's expanding statewide reach, its partnership with the Tweener Fund, and the transformative potential of NC Innovation in tech commercialization. If you're thinking about taking the entrepreneurial leap — or just want to understand what's fueling North Carolina's startup ecosystem — this one's for you. Mentioned in this episode: Elon University https://www.elon.edu/

The Jobs President: Kandi Deitemeyer

Known as Dr. D to students and colleagues alike, Kandi Deitemeyer became president of Charlotte’s Central Piedmont Community College in 2017. Since then, she’s led the school through a once-in-a-century pandemic, crippling cyberattacks and a dramatically shifting job market — all while keeping the school’s scholarship fund growing. Now with 58,000 students, CPCC envisions a larger role creating careers in health, first-responder fields, and aviation, as well as the $25 billion transportation plan. And they’re not sleeping on A.I. either. Mentioned in this episode: Elon University https://www.elon.edu/

Builder, developer and entrepreneur Arthur Samet on The Pyrle, megasites and N.C’s competitiveness

Arthur Samet has spent 35 years transforming the Southeast's built environment — from industrial megasites to healthcare campuses to a beloved downtown concert venue. As CEO of Samet Corp., the company his father founded in 1961, Arthur has grown the firm to over 500 associates across six offices and about $1 billion in annual revenue. But there's more to Arthur than large-scale construction. In this episode, Arthur talks about entrepreneurship, risk tolerance and the story behind The Pyrle — a live music venue he and his partners carved out of Greensboro's historic Triad Stage theater. We also dig into the future of North Carolina's megasites, how AI and robotics could reshape the region's economic landscape, the appeal of coastal markets, and his advice on boardroom leadership. If you're interested in real estate development, economic growth in the Southeast, or the risk-taking mentality of an entrepreneur, this episode is for you. Mentioned in this episode: Elon University https://www.elon.edu/